Despite Russia tensions, US sees success in Syria cease-fire

Diplomat stresses room for cooperation with Moscow

Following the signing by President Trump of new sanctions on Russia this month, US officials are signaling confidence in cooperation with Russia on Syria.

Al-Monitor reports that the success of a deal announced last month, negotiated between the United States, Russia and Jordan, has inspired optimism in the US that the model can be duplicated in other parts of the country.

“Importantly, as you know, we concluded … a cease-fire in the southwest with Jordan and Russia,” Brett McGurk, US envoy in the coalition to defeat IS, was quoted as saying. “So we’re well into the third week of it now, and the results have been quite promising thus far. The fighting has largely stopped.”

“Despite all of our tensions with Russia, we also look for areas where we have to find a way to work together, and I think Syria exemplifies that,” McGurk said.

One boundary, for instance “has held extremely well,” McGurk noted. “This is now in place. Our military personnel speak with the Russians every day, and we, of course, have diplomatic consultations on issues like this far less frequently but whenever we need to.”